Event of 1886: John Pemberton begins to advertise Coca-Cola (in The Atlanta Journal) (1886)

In 1886, following Atlanta's prohibition legislation, John Pemberton developed Coca-Cola as a non-alcoholic alternative to his French Wine Coca. The beverage's first sales occurred in May, followed by its first advertisement in the Atlanta Journal on May 29. This event marks the commercial launch of the brand, distinct from later corporate ownership changes.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Pemberton originally registered his French Wine Coca nerve tonic in 1885. When Atlanta and Fulton County passed prohibition legislation in 1886, he responded by creating a non-alcoholic version, which became Coca-Cola. The product was initially sold at Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta, establishing the brand's commercial presence before formal advertising campaigns began.

Advertising. The first advertisement for Coca-Cola appeared in the Atlanta Journal on May 29, 1886. This ad described the drink as "Delicious!" and marked the beginning of the brand's marketing efforts. Separately, the price of Coca-Cola was fixed at five cents from 1886 to 1959, attributed in part to an advertising campaign and elsewhere to a bottling contract, though the passages do not link that pricing to this specific advertisement.

Commercial Launch. Coca-Cola's first sales occurred on May 8, 1886, at Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. The drink sold for five cents a glass. This initial commercial activity preceded the first newspaper advertisement, establishing the product's market presence in the local community.

People involved

Sources

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